Support for a hinged closure



1961 w. G. HOAG ETAL SUPPORT FOR A HINGED CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 19, 1957 INVENTORS 21/ 29222? @241 1, 1961 w. G. HOAG ETAL SUPPORTFOR A HINGED CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1957 INVENTORSATTORNEY Filed Sept. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 684,891 4 Claims. (Cl. 217-60)This invention relates to a support for a hinged closure, and moreparticularly to an improved latch device on a lift gate support for astation wagon.

One feature of the invention is that it provides an improved lift gatesupport for a station wagon; another feature of the invention is that itprovides a pair of telescoping support channels having improved latchmeans for supporting the lift gate in open position and for permittingthe lift gate to be closed without jamming the channels while using aminimum of space for the channels in closed or retracted position; afurther feature of the invention is that it provides means forsupporting a lift gate or other closure in open position including apair of telescoping channels having a latch lever pivoted on one channelfor engagement with holding means on the other channel, said latch leverhaving a latching tooth with a cam surface engageable by said otherchannel for preventing the latch lever from jamming the channels whenthe channels are in retracted position; and still another feature of theinvention is that it provides a latch lever having a latching tooth witha blocking shoulder on one side for engagement with holding means and acam shoulder on the other side for camming engagement with one of thetelescoping channels to permit the channels to be moved from closedposition toward open position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and from the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a station wagonincorporating the improved support device, the lift gate being shownclosed in full lines and open in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through a portion of thestructure of FIG. 1 along the line Z2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the support device partly in sectionalong the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2 and showingthe support with the lift gate closed;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIG. 4- but showingthe parts with the lift gate partially open;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary View similar to a portion of FIG. 4 but showingthe parts with the lift gate fully open and latched; and

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section taken along the line 7-7 ofFIG. 4.

It is common practice to support the lift gate of a station wagon inopen position by means of a pair of telescoping channels at each side ofthe lift gate. One of the channels, usually the inner one, carries apivoted latch with a latching tooth thereon and the other channel isformed with a slot which mates with the latching tooth when the liftgate is open so that the latch may be swung to move the tooth into theslot and prevent the channels from collapsing or retracting. In the pastthe latching tooth has been formed with straight parallel oppositesides, one side of which acted as a blocking shoulder against the edgeof the latch holding slot in the outer channel to hold the lift gateopen. When the latch was constructed with a rectangular tooth of thistype, it was not possible to so construct and mount the channels thatthe free end of the inner channel which carries the latch projected pastthe pivoted end of the outer channel when the lift gate was closed andthe channels were in retracted position. If this construction were used,the latch might move to latched position so it would lock the channelsin retracted position and make it difficult or impossible to open thelift gate from outside the automobile.

This invention provides a novel latch construction for use in the usualtype of telescoping channel support. According to the invention, thelatching tooth is .constructed with a blocking shoulder for engagementwith the latching slot in the usual manner, but the opposite side of thetooth is formed as a cam surface. With this construction the channelsmay be so proportioned and so mounted that when in retracted position,the free end of the inner channel which carries the latch may projectout past the pivoted end of the outer channel so that the channelsoccupy a minimum of space. When the channels are moved toward openposition, the end of the outer channel engages the cam surface of thelatch tooth and swings the latch out of the way so that the channelscannot lock themselves together. This construction saves space andpermits mounting these channels in the best position to cooperate withthe lift gate and body parts. The channels may be shorter than is thecase in conventional known constructions, and at the same time, the liftgate may be swung to a wider open position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a station wagondesignated generally as 10 has a roof 12 and a rear body pillar 14. Alift gate 16 is mounted on the body by hinge means 18. Any known type ofhinge may be utilized and the hinge is not shown in detail. In theconstruction illustrated, a traveling pivot hinge is utilized to permitthe station wagon lift gate to be swung up and spaced bodily from thestation wagon body to permit more clearance room at the rear end of thestation wagon. The improved latch construction permits the lift gate tobe moved a considerable distance in this man ner without the use ofexcessively long and cumbersome support channels. When in open position,the station Wagon is supported by telescoping channels 20, 22. As iswell understood, the hinge structure and the telescoping channels areduplicated at the opposite side of the car.

The inner channel 20 is pivotally connected at one end to the stationwagon lift gate and the inner channel extends into the outer channel inslidable telescopic relation therewith for movement between extended(open) and retracted positions (closed) as indicated in FIG. 1.Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 7, one end of the inner channel ispivotally connected by a headed stud 24 to an arm 26a of a bracket 26secured by bolts 28 to the station Wagon lift gate at one side thereof.One end of the outer channel 22 is pivotally connected to the bodypillar 14. A bracket 39 is secured by bolts 32 to the body pillar and aheaded stud 34 pivotally secures the channel 22 to the bracket 30. Aspring washer 36 provides an anti-rattle device in this connection and asimilar spring Washer 38 provides an anti-rattle device in the pivotalconnection of the inner channel 26.

Adjacent its other or free end, the inner channel 20 pivotally mounts alatch designated generally as 40. This latch is in the form of anelongated lever pivotally mounted near its lower end on a stud 42projecting from the base wall of the inner channel 20. Adjacent thisstud there is a cam foot portion of the latch designated in the drawingsas 44. The purpose and operation of this foot will later be described.Intermediate the ends of the latch, there is a manually operating handle46 which projects through and is movable in a slot 48 in the innerchannel and which rides in an opening between the turned edges of theouter channel so that the handle does not cause any interference in thesliding relationship of the two channels. Near the free upper end of thelatch, there is an integral latch tooth 5% projecting at one side. Thistooth is not formed with square or parallel sides but has one steepshoulder 52 which acts as a blocking or holding shoulder in cooperationwith latch holding means later to be described and the latch tooth hasanother gently sloping cam shoulder 54 for camming engagement with theouter channel end to prevent jamming of the channels as later will bedescribed. Adjacent its free end, the latch is connected to the innerchannel by means of an overcenter spring 56. A slot 58 is provided inthe side wall of the inner channel through which the latch tooth 50 mayproject. When the latch tooth is in the position of FIG. 5, theovercenter spring exerts a yieldable force or bias to urge the toothinto latching engagement with the outer channel, that is, toward theposition of FIG. 6. However, when the latch is thrown over to the rightas shown in broken lines in FIG. 5, the overcenter spring 56 exerts abias to hold the latch lever in this inoperative position.

The outer channel 22 is formed in its side wall with latch holding meanscomprising a slot 60 for reception of the latch tooth 50 when the liftgate is open; that is, when the lift gate is swung up to the openposition shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, the channels are extendeduntil the latch holding slot 69 in the outer channel is opposite thelatch tooth 50 and the latch tooth may be projected into the slot tohold the lift gate open, the blocking shoulder 52 of the latch toothengaging the upper edge of the slot 60 in the outer channel.

Means are provided for automatically kicking the latch to its latchedposition when the channels are fully extended as the lift gate is swungopen. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, there is a clip device 64 mounted onthe base wall of the outer channel in a location to engage the cam foot44 of the latch lever and swing the latch lever into latching engagementwith the latch holding notch 60 when the channels reach extendedposition. This device comprises U-shaped spring arms 64a which ridealong the opposite side walls of the inner channel and serve ananti-rattle function. The base which interconnects the arms is formedwith a depending mounting bracket portion 64b which is secured by rivets66 to the base wall of the outer channel. As the channels approach fullyextended position, the cam foot 44 of the latch lever strikes the clipdevice 64 to cam the latch lever into latching engagement with the slot60 in the outer channel.

In order to lower the station wagon lift gate, the latch lever handle 46is grasped by the fingers of the operator and moved to the right fromthe position of FIG. 6 to retract the latch tooth from the holding slot.If desired, the latch handle may be moved only a fraction of thepermissible distance to the right to locate the latch tooth in the solidline position of FIG. 5 so that the spring exerts a bias back towardlatching position. However, since there are latches at each oppositeside of the car and since it is sometimes desirable to operate thelatches one at a time, as when the operator has only one free hand, theovercenter spring 56 is so arranged that if the handle is thrown furtherto the right as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5, the spring bias willhold the latch lever in unlatched position. When it is desired to latchthe lift gate open again, the extension of the channels to the positionof FIG. 6 causes the cam foot 44 to strike the clip device 64 and camthe lever to latched position, throwing the spring 56 back overcenter toa position where it exerts a bias toward latched position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the construction may be such that the lift gate israised bodily away from the automobile body to provide a larger accessopening at the rear of the station wagon. This great range of movementof the lift gate would necessitate the use of relatively longtelescoping channels without the invention as herein provided. Accordingto the invention, the channels may be of approximately the same lengthand may be so located respectively on the lift gate and on the bodypillar 14 that when in closed or retracted position, the free end of theinner channel 20 (which free end carries the latch lever 40) may extendpast the pivoted end of the outer channel 22. This condition isillustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7. If the latch tooth 50 were formed witha right angle lower edge, the channels would jam together since thislower edge would lock against the pivoted end of the upper channel whenit was attempted to open the lift gate. The provision of the cam surface54 on the latch tooth for camming engagement with the pivoted end of theouter channel permits the parts to be so arranged and located that thelatch may pass by the end of the outer channel when in retractedposition since the latch is merely cammed to the position of FIG. 5 bythe end of the outer channel 22 as the channels move from retractedtoward extended position.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention, it iscapable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the constructionand arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for supporting a hinged closure member in open position ona body member, comprising: an outer channel pivotally connected at oneend to one of said members; an inner channel pivotally connected at oneend to the other of said members and extending into said outer channelin slidable telescopic relation therewith for movement between extendedand retracted positions, the free end of the inner channel extendingpast the pivoted end of the outer channel when in retracted position; alatch lever pivotally mounted on said inner channel adjacent the freeend thereof, the latch lever being beyond the pivoted end of the outerchannel when the channels are in retracted position, the outer channelhaving latch holding means adjacent its free end and said latch leverhaving a latch tooth with a blocking shoulder on one side engageablewith said latch holding means when the channels are extended to hold theclosure mem ber in open position, said latch tooth being formed with acam shoulder on its other side for camming engagement with the pivotedend of said outer channel when the channels move from retracted positionto cam said latch out of the path of movement of said outer channel whenthe closure member is moved from closed position toward open position;means for camming the latch lever into engagement with said latchholding means when the channels reach extended position; and manualmeans on the latch lever for moving the latch lever out of engagementwith said holding means.

2. Apparatus for supporting a hinged closure member in open position ona body member, comprising: an outer channel pivotally connected at oneend to said member; an inner channel pivotally connected at one end tosaid closure member and extending into said outer channel in slidabletelescopic relation therewith for movement between extended andretracted positions, the free end of the inner channel extending pastthe pivoted end of the outer channel when in retracted position; a latchlever pivotally mounted on said inner channel adjacent the free endthereof, the latch lever being beyond the pivoted end of the outerchannel when the channels are in retracted position, the outer channelhaving a latch holding slot adjacent its free end and said latch memberhaving a latch tooth with a blocking shoulder on one side engageablewith the edge of the slot when the channels are extended to hold theclosure member in the open position, said latch being formed with a camshoulder on its other side for camming engagement with the pivoted endof said outer channel when the channels move from retracted position tocam said latch out of the path of movement of said outer channel whenthe closure member is moved from closed position toward open position;means on the outer channel for camming the latch lever to move thelatching tooth into said latch holding slot when the channels reachextended position; manual means on the latch lever for moving the latchlever out of engagement with said slot; and an overcenter springconnected to said latch lever for biasing said latch lever in a latchingdirection when in one position and in an unlatching direction when inanother position.

3. Apparatus 'for supporting a hinged closure member in open position ona body member, comprising: an outer channel pivotally connected at oneend to one of said members; an inner channel pivotally connected at oneend to the other of said members and extending into said outer channelin slidable telescopic relation therewith for movement between extendedand retracted positions, the free end of the inner channel extendingpast the pivoted end of the outer channel when in retracted positionwhen the closure member is closed; a latch lever pivotally mounted onsaid inner channel adjacent the free end thereof, the latch lever beingbeyond the farthest extremity of the pivoted end of the outer channelwhen the channels are in retracted position, the outer channel havinglatch holding means adjacent its free end and said latch lever having alatch tooth with a blocking shoulder on one side engageable with saidlatch holding means when the channels are extended to hold the closuremember in open position, said latch tooth being formed with a camshoulder on its other side for camming engagement with the pivoted endof said outer channel when the channels move from retracted position tocam said latch out of the path of movement of said outer channel whenthe closure member moves from closed position toward open position.

4. Apparatus for supporting a hinged closure member in open position ona body member, comprising: an outer channel pivotally connected at oneend to one of said members; an inner channel pivotally connected at oneend to the other of said members and extending into said outer channelin slidable telescopic relation therewith for movement between extendedand retracted positions, the free end of the inner channel extendingpast the pivoted end of the outer channel when in retracted positionwhen the closure member is closed; a latch lever pivotally mounted onsaid inner channel adjacent the free end thereof, the entire body of thelatch lever being beyond the farthest extremity of the pivoted end ofthe outer channel when the channels are in retracted position, the outerchannel having latch holding means adjacent its free end and said latchlever having a latch tooth with a blocking shoulder on one sideengageable with said latch holding means when the channels are extendedto hold the closure member in open position, said latch tooth beingformed with a cam shoulder on its other side for camming engagement withthe pivoted end of said outer channel when the channels move fromretracted position to cam said latch out of the path of movement of saidouter channel when the closure member is moved :from closed positiontoward open position; and means for camming the latch lever intoengagement with said latch holding means when the channels reachextended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,229,513 Lustig Ian. 21, 1941 2,288,925 Simpson July 7, 1942 2,566,182Flynn Aug. 28, 1951 2,880,029 Allen Mar. 31, 1959

